National Board Member Update

Happy holidays to both longtime and new members of the Atlanta Local.

It's been a pleasure serving as Atlanta's representative on the SAG-AFTRA National Board for the past 20 years. In addition to the National Board, I serve on the National Executive Committee, I am a member of the Committee of Locals, a vice chair for the Small Locals Committee and I sit on the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Compensation. I serve in various capacities to ensure that Atlanta members have a voice on a national level that continues to keep our unique needs and concerns front and center.

The journey from being a local of approximately 800 combined members before merger, serviced by staff working out of a small office on E. Paces Ferry Road, to a state-of-the-art office in Piedmont Center and over 3,000 members has been remarkable. But I am confident that with the continued hard work of local and national staff, locally elected leaders, nationally elected leaders and member volunteers, the best is still yet to come.

I want to take the opportunity in this, our first quarterly digital newsletter, to highlight just a few of the events of the past 18 months that have greatly affected our careers in positive ways. 

• The Return to Work Agreement was extended through Jan. 16 by the National Executive Committee. The agreement was the result of a joint effort between SAG-AFTRA, the DGA and IATSE that was agreed to by the AMPTP. It is a set of COVID-19 safety protocols that help everyone, whether in front of the camera or behind it, continue to work in the safest environment possible.

• The Dues Relief program was a payment plan implemented at the onset of the pandemic to help members facing financial hardship extend the time to pay their dues without late fees, continue to stay in good standing and retain all of their member rights and privileges. 

• Approval of the new SAG-AFTRA Influencer Agreement earlier this year was a major milestone. The influencers industry is projected to reach $15 billion in earnings in 2022. The new agreement allows the union to increase coverage over this area, protect and grow the membership, and add to the pension and health plans.  

• The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act is under strong consideration again in Washington, D.C.  For the last 35 years, the performing artists’ deduction has been capped at $16,000 earnings per year. If passed, the new bill would update the deduction to $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for married artists filing jointly. National staff and the national officers continue to work closely with officials in the Capitol to get this bill passed and put thousands of dollars in members' pockets.  

• SAG-AFTRA maintained a presence in Washington and worked with Congress to ensure that SAG-AFTRA members were eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. We were able to obtain Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, which added as much as $100 per week to unemployment benefits for those members with up to $5,000 in 1099 earnings on top of their W-2 earnings. 

• Our first-ever online SAG-AFTRA National Convention was held this October. The theme for this year's convention was “Virtual / Vital / Visionary.” In addition to electing the national vice residents for locals and work categories, delegates evaluated and voted on numerous amendments that have been sent to the National Board for review over the coming months. Moving toward gender-neutral designations and standardizing self-taping policies are two of the issues that the board will be addressing, and I hope to report back to you about in the near future.  

• The current Commercials Contracts end March 31. At the last negotiations, we introduced the Alternate Compensation Structure, which was the first step in adapting the entire structure of the contract to keep up with the changing commercial landscape and new technology such as streaming. Recently, SAG-AFTRA, along with the Joint Policy Committee, which represents major advertisers at the bargaining table, hired the consulting firm Slalom to conduct a study on ways to address the aforementioned changes and simplify the Commercials Contracts. Please take the time to become familiar with the current Commercials Contracts so you will be able to better evaluate the new changes. Now is also a good time to get answers to any questions you might have about the Commercials Contracts and how it works. After all, it’s SAG-AFTRA contracts that dictate how you are paid and earn a living in this profession.

After years of outstanding leadership and seeing the union through 18 months of the worst challenges ever, we bid a fond goodbye to National Executive Director David White earlier this summer. But we are so fortunate to now be in the equally capable hands of new National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. I look forward to working with everyone as we hopefully move out of the pandemic and forward to an even brighter future.

As 2021 comes to an end, I want to wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!

By National Board member Debra Nelson for the Atlanta Local newsletter.